Kindergarten

Let's be five for a second.

When I was five I went to kindergarten. I made friends, all boys. My teacher told me I was really a big girl because I didn't think boys were icky. (Little did she know, I never ever thought of boys as icky.) When someone stole my toys, I didn't go steal toys from someone else, I didn't even steal my toys back! Instead, I asked the kid nicely if we could share, or I told my teacher I needed help. I got rewarded for that too. I learned very quickly that "she did it first" was NOT an excuse. Overall, I had a great childhood.

Now let's jump this direction, to 18.

I'm graduating. I made new friends in my college classes, almost ALL boys again. One of my best friends is a boy actually. No one is telling me I'm a big girl. In fact, they all wonder if I have any friends at all. Everyone tells me I need friends that are girls. HELLO! I DO HAVE THOSE! Not as many, but I still have them! My sisters steal my stuff ALL THE TIME, and I still don't steal back. When I ask for help, I'm told to just steal their clothes. Apparently "she did it first" is a legitimate excuse these days. What happened?

I don't know what happened. I honestly have no bloody clue. I used to be rewarded for having Derek as my best friend. Now with Nathan as my best friend everyone is flipping out at me. Nathan isn't any different than Derek (concept wise). Why should I give up my best guy friends because I'm a girl? What sense does that make? I have girl friends. I don't have a million, but I have enough. I have at least three in my ward, and a bunch more at school. I don't see why I need more.

Why should I steal stuff just because someone else does it? That doesn't set me apart from them. Seeking revenge usually just makes you as low as the other person. Why would I want to be classed with someone like that? If I wanted to be like them, I'd steal ALL their stuff, not just my stuff back.

Since when have parents been able to say "well everyone is doing it."? Seriously. I thought MORMONS were raised better than that. I thought WE were the ones who were supposed to rise above and NOT do what EVERYONE else is doing. Isn't that why we wear shorts to our knees, shirts that cover our boobs AND shoulders, and keep our "temples" pure? I mean if "Everyone is doing it" is a legit excuse, then why do we even try to be different?

If kindergarten is where we're supposed to learn how to become civilized people then why aren't we civilized now? If this is how ALL adults are going to be, then why don't we just set children loose in a room and say "survival of the fittest!"? I really don't understand. I stick to what I was "conditioned" to do, and I'm punished by society. I do what society tells me to do, and I'm still punished by society.